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Focus Reports Bonanza Silver Grades from Minas Chanca Project, Peru

VANCOUVER, Feb. 20, 2012 /CNW/ - Focus Ventures Ltd. (TSXV: FCV.V) is
pleased to announce that recent underground sampling and diamond
drilling at its Minas Chanca project by Compañia de Minas Buenaventura
(NYSE: BVN, "Buenaventura") has returned bonanza silver grades of up to
9.3kg/t Ag over 35cm in underground drilling. Underground channel
sampling along some of the veins returned a best interval for the
Candelaria vein of 761g/t Ag +2.46% Pb + 2.25% Zn over 87m strike
length and an average vein thickness of 60cm.

Focus's partner on the project, Compañia de Minas Buenaventura (NYSE:
BVN, "Buenaventura"), is now beginning work on a resource estimation
for some of the high grade shoots identified by the recent sampling.

Buenaventura is undertaking a detailed underground and surface
exploration program including 6,816m of diamond drilling to date.
Surface drilling has identified extensions to the Santo Toribio and
Santo Rosa vein system some 300m west of the of the old historic
workings in an area concealed by colluvial cover.

Highlights of the recent drilling include:

Santo Toribio Vein

Hole

From (m)

To (m)

Interval (m)*

Ag (g/t)

Pb (%)

Zn (%)

HDD CAN 11-02

210.40

210.85

0.45

418.9

0.07

0.19

660 PS 11-19

17.55

19.35

1.8

544.7

0.42

0.64

Santo Rosa System

Hole

From (m)

To (m)

Interval (m)*

Ag (g/t)

Pb (%)

Zn (%)

HDD CAN 11-03

10.75

12.6

1.85

1,152.8

0.06

0.24

and

19.45

20.40

0.95

362.3

0.06

0.17

HDD CAN 11-04

93.35

93.80

0.45

769.9

0.12

0.19

HDD CAN 11-07

157.40

159.50

2.1

1,544.0

0.11

0.36

and

170.90

171.25

0.35

382.9

0.06

0.07

HDD CAN 11-08

178.50

178.85

0.35

9,314.6

0.25

0.25

HDD CAN 11-09

220.10

220.75

0.65

699.0

0.15

0.44

HDD CAN 11-13

394.00

394.55

0.55

1,695.1

0.26

0.48

* Drilled core interval. True widths have not yet been provided but are
expected to approximate the cored interval.

BVN are planning to develop a cross-cut from the 440 Level main gallery
some 375m to cut the high-grade veins drilled in holes 11-02, 11-04,
11-07 and 11-08.

Underground Development

Underground mapping and sampling has successfully identified the depth
and strike continuation of bonanza-grade shoots which are typical of
the grades mined historically in the upper levels at Chanca. Highlights
of the sampling are as follows:

Interval along
vein (m)

Width of
vein (m)

Average
Ag (g/t)

Pb (%)

Zn (%)

Vein

Level 440

87

0.6

761.0

2.46

2.25

Candelaria

36

0.5

480.6

0.77

1.06

Candelaria

16

0.81

550.9

1.78

2.17

Candelaria

12

0.53

858.7

0.99

0.68

Candelaria

63

0.52

522.8

2.76

1.56

Tarazca

48

0.53

419.6

1.5

2.26

Tarazca

To date, over 2,000m of tunnels have been rehabilitated over 3 levels,
including Level 440 that was the principal access gallery used in the
1980's when the mine was in production, and the Level 400 that accessed
the main high-grade Candelaria vein. The lowest gallery, Level 365 is
currently being de-watered and rehabilitated to access the Candelaria
West vein for exploration: this vein returned high grade silver
mineralization along Levels 440 and 400.

Several high-grade shoots have already been blocked out along the
Candelaria and Tarazca veins, and resource estimation will commence
once all assays have been received. The high grades sampled on the
Tarazca vein along Level 440 will be explored by underground
development to the southwest and at depth by underground drilling to
justify further exploration by underground development along the 400
Level.

Buenaventura have spent approximately $2.5 million of the $3 million
investment commitment required to earn a 75% interest in Minas Chanca
project, including completion of a 17km graded access road from Minas
Chanca to their permitted Mallay mine and mill.

Once Buenaventura vests its 75%, they will have a period of 12 months to
acquire Focus's 25% participating interest by paying Focus the greater
of $4 million in cash or $4.00 /oz Ag based on resources outlined in a
NI 43-101 compliant technical report. If Buenaventura chooses not to
purchase Focus's 25% share of the joint venture, Focus will have the
option to elect to have Buenaventura provide financing, with repayments
to be made through dividends, or alternatively Focus can choose its own
financing. A 2% Net Smelter Royalty will be payable to Focus on future
production, subject to a buy-out clause of $1 million.

Background

Minas Chanca is high-grade past-producing silver mine located in the
Central Peru Polymetallic Belt. It lies within the prolific Central
Peru Polymetallic Belt, some 160km north of the Peruvian capital, Lima
and 65km north of Focus's Santa Rosa property.

References to mining at Minas Chanca date back to 1712 during Spanish
Colonial times. Commercial production took place from 1975 with a 180
tonne per day plant and shut down in 1985 due to low silver prices and
labor disputes. The majority of historical silver-lead and zinc ore
came from the Candelaria, Tarazca and Santo Toribio veins, where early
production reportedly yielded grades of 15 - 25 oz Ag/t.

Mr. David Cass, Focus's President, is a member of the Association of
Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, and is
Focus's "Qualified Person" in accordance with NI 43-101. Mr. Cass has
verified that the technical information in this release is an accurate
summary of the information provided by Buenaventura to Focus; however,
Focus has not independently verified the information provided by
Buenaventura.

Sampling Quality Analysis and Quality Control

Samples were prepared and analyzed at ALS Chemex laboratories in Lima.
Peru. Silver was determined by multi-acid digestion and ICP-AES, with
fire assay gravimetric finish. Lead and zinc were determined by ICP
with Atomic Absorption with volumetric finish. ALS Chemex's quality
control system complies with International Standards ISO 9001:2000 and
ISO 17025:2005. Analytical accuracy and precision are monitored by the
analysis of reagent blanks, reference material and replicate samples.

About Focus Ventures

Focus Ventures is acquiring advanced, drill-ready projects in Peru and
Mexico. Backed by an experienced technical team of geologists and
consultants, Focus's strategy is to identify and acquire former
producing mines or untested gold and silver and base metal properties
that show potential to become new mines. For further information,
please call 604-688-5288 or visit our web site www.focusventuresltd.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"David Cass"David Cass, President

Symbol: TSXV-FCV
Shares Issued: 36.4-million

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory
Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking StatementSome of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking
information that involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the
business of Focus Ventures Ltd. Actual results may differ materially
from those currently anticipated in such statement.